Member Article

Boho 4 Fills Up Fast

The transformation of a historic Middlesbrough building into an ultra-modern workspace has proved so popular that almost all the offices have been snapped up within weeks of completion.

‘Boho Four’ makes up part of the town’s successful digital and creative business cluster the Boho Zone. The redevelopment by Green Lane Property breathed new life into the historic Victorian building known as Gibson House.

Offering versatile high-spec offices big enough for one to 20 people Boho Four is proving a smash hit, with only three out of 17 rooms left.

One of the companies finding space to grow at Boho Four is ClickFlow, a digital company helping businesses drive traffic to their websites and to generate sales through them.

Owner David Maxwell said: “I started as a consultant at DigitalCity Business, and set up ClickFlow while working at Boho One.

“I’ve moved to Boho Four to get more space and it’s working well for me – because we’re just across the road from Boho One, it’s great for networking and doing business with other local people.

“All sorts of companies work in Boho Four, so there’s a real buzz about the place.”

Boho Four tenants can use existing Boho facilities such as meeting spaces, networking events and business and academic links. There’s also videoconferencing, free car and bike parking and a fitness suite.

Digital entrepreneurs Kevin Mann and Rachel Burns moved their company, Audacious, into Boho Four after falling in love with the building.

Audacious.us is an online community where Christians can find, create and share information, and Rachel and Kevin have four people working with them at Boho Four.

“It’s one of the most attractive buildings in Middlesbrough,” said Kevin. “We are big fans of reuse and regenerating so it’s extremely exciting to be part of what’s being done here.”

One of the newest businesses in the building is bridal boutique Calm Weddings, run by Vicky Brown and Julie Silcox. Vicky said: “Boho Four is such a beautiful building it fits in well with our idea of lovely bridal wear.

“We find Boho Four a really friendly place to work – it feels like you are part of something there.”

Mark Elliott, chief executive of DigitalCity Business, said the popularity of Boho Four was a reflection of the growing vibrancy in the area and of DigitalCity’s work in encouraging regeneration, enterprise and providing business support.

“This superbly-transformed historic building and the exciting businesses which have chosen to make it their base are proving that there’s something really special going on in the Boho Zone.

“But we’re not finished yet – not by a long way. We’re anticipating more buildings – both new and refurbished – coming online in the Boho Zone and elsewhere in the Tees Valley. In Stockton for example, we’ll soon be seeing the opening of another fantastic refurbishment for digital and creative businesses in Dovecot Street.

“All of these will contribute immensely to the developing economic success of the Tees Valley”

*DCB is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lottie King .